Contourable diaper

ABSTRACT

A contourable diaper comprising, a pleated pervious cover sheet, a pleated impervious back sheet, and a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets. The pads are permitted to move longitudinally in the overlapped region in order that the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infant&#39;&#39;s body.

ilnited States Patent 1 Schaar 5] Nov. 19, 1974 [5 1 CONTOURABLE DIAPER 75 Inventor: Charles H. Schaar, Lake Zurich, Ill. Gaude Assistant Examiner-J. Yasko [73] Assignee: The Kendall Company, Walpole, Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Powell L. Sprunger Mass.

[22] Filed: Oct. 12, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] AWL 406,140 A contourable diaper comprising, a pleated'pervious cover sheet, a pleated impervious back sheet, and a 'pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and U-S- Cl. b k h t The pad are permitted to move Iongitu- [51] int. Cl. A6lf 13/16 dinany in the overlapped region i Order that the i [58] Field of Search 128/284, 286, 287 per transforms f a generally planar Shape to an ab cuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expan- [56] References Clted sion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the UNITED STATES PATENTS diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the di- 318,141 5/1885 Samuel 128/284 v to generally conform to the contour of infants 3,030,956 4/1962 Nichols 128/284 body. 3,322,122 5/1967 Daniel 128/284 3,650,273 3/1972 Schaar 128/287 18 Chums 11 D'awmg F'gures CONTOURABLE DIAPER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to diapers.

Although an assortment of disposable diapers have been proposed for infants, it has been difficult to obtain a close fit of the diaper due to the narrowing contour of the body in the crotch region and about the infants legs. This problem has been more pronounced in disposable diapers than in conventional cloth diapers, since the former are less pliable and do not as readily adapt to the shape of the body. Accordingly, when the standard flat rectangular disposable diapers are placed on the infant, they assume a bulky configuration in the crotch region of the baby, resulting in irritation and discomfort. Additionally, the longitudinal edges of such diapers do not readily seal against the babys body in the crotch region and about the legs, and gaps develop through which fluid may escape.

A baby panty is disclosed in Schaar. US. Pat. No. 3,650,273, which was invented by the present applicant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Another feature of the invention is that the longitudinal sides of the diaper bow inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infants body.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the following description of the embodiments of this invention and from the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front side of a contourable diaper of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the diaper of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially as indicated along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the diaper of FIG. 3 after expansion of the diaper;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the diaper of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6-8 are perspective views of the diaper of FIG. 5, illustrating how the diaperof FIG. 1 is constructed;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the diaper of FIG. 1 after expansion of the diaper;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of the diaper of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, and 5, there is shown a diaper designated generally 20 having a fluid pervious cover sheet 22, a fluid impervious back sheet 24, and a pair of absorbent pads 26a and 26b. As shown in FIG. 5, the pads 26a and b may be constructed from fluff 28a and 28b, such as wood pulp, sandwiched between a pair of tissues 30a and 30b. As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5, the cover sheet 22 has at least one laterally extending pleat 32 preferably in the longitudinal center portion of the diaper 20. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the back sheet 24 also has at least one laterally extending pleat 34 preferably in the longitudinal center portion of the diaper 20. As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, the pads 26a and b have ends 36a and 36b which are overlapped. The overlapping ends 36a and b are preferably located in the longitudinal central region of the diaper, such that they are positioned in the crotch region of the diaper.

A preferred embodiment of the diaper of the present invention may be constructed as follows. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, flaps 40a and 40b of the back sheet 24 adjacent the lateral edges of the back sheet may be folded over and adhered to the top of the cover sheet 22. Areas of adhesive 42a and 42b extending from the flaps 40a and b along the longitudinal side edges of the back sheet 24 may be utilized to adhere the back sheet 24 to the cover sheet 22 in these areas. The pads 26a and b preferably extend from adjacent the lateral edges 44a and 44b of the diaper, and are preferably tapered toward their overlapping ends 36a and b, such that the pads 26a and b are spaced inwardly from the longitudinal edges of the cover and back sheets 22 and 24, as shown in FIG. 6. Although the overlapped ends 36a and b of the pads 26a and b may be located beneath the pleat 32 of the cover sheet 22, the overlying end 36a of one pad 26a is preferably received in one tuck 46a of the pleat 32 as shown in FIG. 3, while the underlying end 36b of the other pad 26b is located beneath an opposing tuck 46b of the pleat 32. In either case, the pads are free of attachment in the overlapped region.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, flaps 50a and 50b of the cover and back sheets adjacent the longitudinal edges of the sheets may be folded over the cover sheet 22. As shown in FIG. 8, the longitudinal central portion of the sheets, along the sides of the diaper of FIG. 7, may be refolded over the cover sheet 22, and the refolded portion of the sheets may be adhered to the cover sheet by adhesive zones 52a and 52b, thus defining the longitudinal sides 54a and 54b of the completed diaper shown in FIG. 8. The diaper 20 may have conventional tape strips-58a and 58b, as shown, to secure the diaper on an infant during placement of the diaper.

Preparatory to placement of the diaper 20, the flat diapers of FIGS. 1 and 8 may be grasped adjacent the lateral edges 44a and b and pulled lengthwise, as shown in FIG. 9, such that the overlapped ends 36a and b of the pads 26a and b move longitudinally relative each other, as shown in FIG. 4, in order to expand the diaper. The pleats 32 and 34 permit longitudinal expansion of the cover and back sheets 22 and 24. The diaper 20 transforms from a generally planar shape, as shown in FIG. 8, to an arcuate configuration, as shown in FIG. 9, responsive to the longitudinal expansion of the diaper. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the longitudinal sides of the diaper 54a and b bow inwardly in the central region of the diaper, to generally conform to the contour of an infants body. Thus, when the expanded diaper is placed on the infant, the longitudinal sides 54a and b of the diaper form a close sealing contact with the infants body to prevent the escape of fluids, and the back sheet 24 of the expanded diaper assumes pouch-like configuration to prevent interference of bulk in the diaper with movement of the infants legs and to provide a fluid retention chamber for body waste.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 10, in which the diaper 120 has a fluid pervious cover sheet 122, a fluid impervious back sheet 124, and three absorbent pads 1260, 126b, and 1260, having overlapped ends. The cover sheet 122 preferably has a pair of pleats 180 and 182, and the back sheet 124 may have a plurality of pleats 190. A first end pad 126a has one end 170 overlying one end 172 of a second central pad l26b. A third end pad 1260 has one end 174 underlying the other end 176 of the second pad 126b.

If desired, the overlapped ends of the three absorbent pads may be located completely beneath the cover sheet 122 and the pleats 180 and 182 in the cover sheet. However, in a preferred embodiment, the overlapping ends of the pads are separated by the pleats of the cover sheet as described below. The cover sheet pleat 180 is located adjacent the overlapping ends of the first and second pads 126a and b, and the one end 170 of the first pad 126a is received in a first tuck 184a of the pleat 180, while the one end 172 of the second pad l26b is located beneath a second reverse tuck 184b of the first pleat 180. Similarly, the cover sheet pleat 182 is located adjacent the overlapping ends of the second and third pads l26b and c, and the overlying end 176 of the second pad l26b is received in a first tuck 186a of the second pleat 182, while the underlying end 174 of the third pad 126(: is located beneath a reverse second tuck 186 b of the second pleat 182. The first and third pads 126a and preferably extend to adjacent the lateral sides 144a and b of the diaper 120, and the pleats of the cover sheet 122 are preferably located in the crotch region of the diaper. When the diaper is expanded by grasping and pulling the waistline portions of the diaper adjacent the lateral edges 144a and b, the diaper assumes a contoured configuration in a manner similar to that described in connection with the diaper of FIGS. l-9.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 11, in which the diaper 220 has a fluid pervious cover sheet 222, a fluid impervious back sheet 224, and a pair of absorbent pads 226a and 226b. The cover sheet 222 has at least one pleat 232, and the back sheet 224 has at least one pleat 234. The pads 226a and b of the unexpanded diaper have ends 262a and 262b, respectively, in approximately abutting relationship, and

the pads 226a and b extend from their ends 262a and b toward opposite lateral ends 244a and 244b of the diaper. The ends 262a and b of the pads 226a and b are preferably located in the longitudinal central portion of the diaper, which generally conforms to the crotch region of an infant when the diaper is placed. When the diaper is expanded by grasping and pulling adjacent the lateral ends 244a and b of the diaper, the ends 262a and b of the pad 226a and b are caused to separate, and the diaper assumes a contoured configuration, as previously described in connection with the diapers of FIGS. 1-10. During use of the diaper on an infant, urine passes between the separated ends 262a and b of the pads 226a and b onto the back sheet 224, after which it spreads and is absorbed into the pads 226a and b from below.

Thus, diapers have been described which may be contoured to conform closely with the contour of an infants body to achieve a better fit of the diaper and more comfort to the infant after placement. It is understood that any number of absorbent pads may be staggered in the manner disclosed above, and the cover and back sheets may have any number of lateral pleats, as desired, to obtain a diaper which conforms to an infants body after expansion of the diaper.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A contourable diaper comprising:

a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the cover sheet;

a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and

a pair of absorbent pads intermediate said cover and back sheets, said pads having overlapping ends in the longitudinal central region of the diaper with the pads being free of attachment in the overlapped region, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other. and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infants body.

2. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the pleat of the cover sheet is located in the longitudinal central portion of the diaper, the overlying end of one pad is received in a tuck of the cover sheet pleat, and the underlying end of the other pad is located beneath the opposing tuck of the cover sheet pleat.

3. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pads are tapered toward their overlapping ends.

4. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pads are spaced from the longitudinal edges of said cover and back sheets, and the longitudinal sides of said sheets are folded over said cover sheet.

5. The diaper of claim 4 wherein the folded over sheets are refolded and adhered to the cover sheet in the central region of the diaper.

6. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pair of pads extend from adjacent opposite lateral edges of the diaper.

7. A contourable diaper comprising:

a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one laterally extending pleat in the longitudinal central region of the diaper;

fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and

a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets and having overlapped ends in the longitudinal central region of the diaper, with the overlying end of one pad being received in a tuck of the cover sheet pleat and the underlying end of the other pad being located beneath the opposing tuck of the cover sheet pleat, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal edges of said sheets bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infants body.

8. The diaper of claim 7 wherein said pads are tapered toward their overlapping ends.

9. The diaper of claim 7 wherein said pair of pads extend from opposite lateral edges of the diaper.

10. A contourable diaper comprising:

a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the cover sheet;

a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and

at least three absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets, a first of said pads having one end overlying one end of a second of said pads, and a third of said pads having one end underlying the other end of the second pad, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infants body.

11. The diaper of claim 10 wherein said back sheet has a plurality of laterally extending pleats.

12. The diaper of claim 10 wherein said cover sheet has a plurality of laterally extending pleats.

13. The diaper of claim 12 wherein said cover sheet has a first pleat located adjacent the overlapped ends of the first and second pads and a second pleat located adjacent the overlapped ends of the second and third pads.

14. The diaper of claim 13 wherein the one overlying end of the first pad is received in a first tuck in the first cover sheet pleat and the underlying one end of the sec- 0nd pad is located beneath a second oppositely di- "rected tuck of the first pleat, and the other overlying end of the second pad is received in a first tuck of the second cover sheet pleat and the one underlying end of the third pad is located beneath a second oppositely directed tuck of the second pleat.

15. The diaper of claim 10 wherein the overlapped ends of the first, second, and third pads are located generally in the crotch region of the diaper.

16. The diaper of claim 10 wherein the other ends of the first and third pads extend to adjacent opposite lateral edges of the diaper.

17. A contourable diaper comprising:

a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the cover sheet;

a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and

a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets, each of said pads extending from the longitudinal central region of the diaper toward opposite lateral edges of the diaper, said pads being free of attachment in the longitudinal central region of the diaper, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infants body.

18. A contourable diaper comprising:

a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the cover sheet;

a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and

a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets, each of said pads extending from the longitudinal central region of the diaper toward opposite lateral edges of the diaper, said pads having ends in approximately abutting relationship in the longitudinal central region of the diaper, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the 1ongitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infants body. 

1. A contourable diaper comprising: a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the cover sheet; a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and a pair of absorbent pads intermediate said cover and back sheets, said pads having overlapping ends in the longitudinal central region of the diaper with the pads being free of attachment in the overlapped region, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infant''s body.
 2. The diaper of claim 1 wherein the pleat of the cover sheet is located in the longitudinal central portion of the diaper, the overlying end of one pad is received in a tuck of the cover sheet pleat, and the underlying end of the other pad is located beneath the opposing tuck of the cover sheet pleat.
 3. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pads are tapered toward their overlapping ends.
 4. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pads are spaced from the longitudinal edges of said cover and back sheets, and the longitudinal sides of said sheets are folded over said cover sheet.
 5. The diaper of claim 4 wherein the folded over sheets are refolded and adhered to the cover sheet in the central region of the diaper.
 6. The diaper of claim 1 wherein said pair of pads extend from adjacent opposite lateral edges of the diaper.
 7. A contourable diaper comprising: a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one laterally extending pleat in the longitudinal central region of the diaper; a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets and having overlapped ends in the longitudinal central region of the diaper, with the overlying end of one pad being received in a tuck of the cover sheet pleat and the underlying end of the other pad being located beneath the opposing tuck of the cover sheet pleat, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal edges of said sheets bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infant''s body.
 8. The diaper of claim 7 wherein said pads are tapered toward their overlapping ends.
 9. The diaper of claim 7 wherein said pair of pads extend from opposite lateral edges of the diaper.
 10. A contourable diaper comprising: a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the covEr sheet; a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and at least three absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets, a first of said pads having one end overlying one end of a second of said pads, and a third of said pads having one end underlying the other end of the second pad, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infant''s body.
 11. The diaper of claim 10 wherein said back sheet has a plurality of laterally extending pleats.
 12. The diaper of claim 10 wherein said cover sheet has a plurality of laterally extending pleats.
 13. The diaper of claim 12 wherein said cover sheet has a first pleat located adjacent the overlapped ends of the first and second pads and a second pleat located adjacent the overlapped ends of the second and third pads.
 14. The diaper of claim 13 wherein the one overlying end of the first pad is received in a first tuck in the first cover sheet pleat and the underlying one end of the second pad is located beneath a second oppositely directed tuck of the first pleat, and the other overlying end of the second pad is received in a first tuck of the second cover sheet pleat and the one underlying end of the third pad is located beneath a second oppositely directed tuck of the second pleat.
 15. The diaper of claim 10 wherein the overlapped ends of the first, second, and third pads are located generally in the crotch region of the diaper.
 16. The diaper of claim 10 wherein the other ends of the first and third pads extend to adjacent opposite lateral edges of the diaper.
 17. A contourable diaper comprising: a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the cover sheet; a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets, each of said pads extending from the longitudinal central region of the diaper toward opposite lateral edges of the diaper, said pads being free of attachment in the longitudinal central region of the diaper, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infant''s body.
 18. A contourable diaper comprising: a fluid pervious cover sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the cover sheet; a fluid impervious back sheet having at least one pleat extending laterally across the back sheet; and a pair of absorbent pads intermediate the cover and back sheets, each of said pads extending from the longitudinal central region of the diaper toward opposite lateral edges of the diaper, said pads having ends in approximately abutting relationship in the longitudinal central region of the diaper, whereby said pads move longitudinally relative each other and the diaper transforms from a generally planar shape to an arcuate configuration responsive to longitudinal expansion of the diaper, with the longitudinal sides of the diaper bowing inwardly in the central region of the diaper to generally conform to the contour of an infant''s body. 